The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-12

keep for a separate letter an account of tea
growing.
No finer view can be seen in the world
than these tea fields. covering the hills in
every direction, while on the PLAIN below
the rice paddles are spread like new billiard
tables in every possible shape, and the silver
river, with its bordering mountains, stretches
in the distance. About II O'Clock we
reached monastery perched on the hillside
near the top. A bearer had carried lunch
on his bamboo pole After ou- seven miles
of climbing we sat down 70 lunch which
exercise had rendered appetizing. We did
not tarry long, as we had to make the dis
lance back by night TO meet an engagement.
Through these tea fields, watching the hun
dreds of boys and women who were pluck
ing the leaves, we walked back over hills
and mountains, until we commenced the
last descent by. different route from the
one that we bad assembled. Here was
mountain . 600 feet high. The clouds were
resting on its top. Our descent was by stone
steps placed IN the mountain-ss1o. 1t was
dangerous tramp, but the view was superb.
Once below the clouds, the plain below,
every inch in cultivation, spread like vast
the pheasant whistling in the
bushes. On the right was 8 precipice,
on the left the mountain, and beneath our
feet these interminable steps. Once down
the hill we took our sedans and were car
ried on the narrow paths between the paddy
fields. The rice, like tobacco Is trans
planted. After few weeks growth the deli
cate tufts are pulled up and replaced in
water nearly foot deep. This ground has
been completely broken up by buffaloes.
These tufts are thrown from the banks all
over the fields, and men set them out. The
hills are irrigated by water conveyed fro N
the hills by trenches, damned here and
there and let in when necessary. When
he ri fail "a "a
Chinaman rarely eats bread. Rice, which
less than cents day will supply, furnishes
his food. He adds to this onions, cabbage.
fruits, and sometimes pig, with tea at al
hours of the day.
Foo-chow, Annoy, Hankow, all the tea cen
ters, are lively places during May, June,
July and August.
The tea, brought in in the manner de-
scribed, is all tasted by tasters, who some
times taste 500 different teas in day. There
is a sample in a small tin box which is
marked with the date and the description OF
the seller, etc. There are hundreds, even
thousands, of these boxes, which, when the
season ends, 90 to the comprador. In the
tea hong there is a high, narrow table OF
plain plank. On this ara fifty, sixty or a
hundred small pots and tea cups. The tea
is boiled FIVE minutes by a sand-glass and
then poured into the cup. There are huge
uIns at Intervals for the faster 10 expect0rate
III. lie bdSt6o Ouc Gu UdkeS n6AuOIhu-
dunn, expectorates. and goes to the next
This process goes on every hour until mid
night during the season. The faster mustglv
up the use OF tobacco and stimulants Oh
his judgment the price is fixed. This process
is reps ated in London and New York. At
one house they spread before our party sixty
cups. | inquired which was the best, and
was told that a tea called the Persian was the
most high-prlced-$2 a pound. 1t is called
Persian because it is sent TO Persia. l called
for sugar and drank cupOf this tea.
did not taste the other fits nine cups.
This tea hong was owned and operated by
the great Russian firm of Tokmakof, Molot-
charge. / shall think of him frequently
when / drink some of his Persian tea in
Pekin next winter. The American firm of
Hedge & Co. does a large and prosperous
business in groceries, commission and gen
eral trade st Foo-chow. The house is in
charge of Mr.. j. A. Coffin. He and his
charming wife entertained us handsomely.
Mrs. Coffin is an Ind;auian; she comes from
Muncie, and by her beauty, requirements
and grace does honor to her native State.
On a trip in which the people of all nation.
alities were as hospitable as possible it was
peculiarly delightful to meet an Indianian.
A place Of interest at FOO-chow is the
factory of brick tea. The great firm 1 have
mentioned here compress the tea-dust into
bricks for the Russian market. These bricks
are usually slabs about an inch thick and
five or six inches long by three or four broad.
Some look almost exactly like plugs OF to-
bacco, having the same color and size, but
rather thicker. 1t is not supposed to be the
best tea, but we have used some OF it at
home, and do not find it inferior to ordinary
tea. Sometimes the bricks, or cakes, are for
all the world exactly like cakes of chocolate.
There are divisions in the cakes, and you
break off as large piece as you wish to use.
This tea finds great sale among the common
people of Russia. There is no steam used in
its manufacture, but dozen stalwart Chi
nese throw their weight upon a lever.
The pressure comes down on box contain
ing the tea. When the sides of the box are
removed there is perfect brick, which is
then put in paper labeled and sent to
market. At one of these houses | saw 400
women and children engaged in picking
over tea Each one had a large straw tray
before her aud infinitely manipulated the
tea and picked out the stems. 1t is very
delicate work.
fear these letters will become intermina-
bic, and must abbreviste.
The Chinese authorities were very polite
to us here. The Vice-roy gave US q royal
dinner, and put his steam launch at our dis
posal for day. He was in turn dined by
complished American Consul. Mr.. Cowles,
the interpreter. and Mr.. S!artwell,
the marshal OF the Consulate,
were as polite as possible. Mr.. T. Pollard,
the head of the great English house of Jar
dine, Matheson 4 Co., gave fine entertain
ment to the officers of the Marion and the
rest of the party, and was otherwise profuse
in his civilities. The band of the Marion
played on the recreation ground and at -pri-
vate entertainments Altogether, the visit
to Foo-chow was one to be remembered a
long time on account Of its agreeable Incl
dents.
1t is proper to mention here, once for all,
that the Commissioners of the Imperial Gus
toms of China everywhere entertained our
party most elegantly. Mr.. Sannin, at Foo
chow, was particularly polite and courteous.
He lives in magnificent house, and is the
soul of hospitali
An